. >> so the nominations of chuck haig toll be defense secretary and john brennan to head the cia both hanging in the balance now which the white house says is a grave concern. >> between john brennan, cea director and chuck hagel as secretary of defense we want to make sure that we have those guys sitting in the chairs working because i don't want there to have been something missed because of this hangup here in washington. >> and congress now in recess for the president's day holiday. shannon? >> shannon: steve, thank you very much. >> you bet. >> shannon: there is no sign of any deal to avoid the automatic across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration. one of the agencies that would be hardest hit by this, of course, is the pentagon. outgoing defense secretary leon panetta says it would be devastating to the military. joining us to talk about that and more retired four star general and former vice chief of staff to the army general jack keene. good to see you. thanks for coming in. what is your take on sequestration. there was heated back and forth on the hill between lawmake